Vehicle suspension system



Nov. 7, 1950 K. B. Klr-:R v VEHICLE SUSPENSION Sysm- 2 Sheets-Sheet JFiled Nov. 26, 1948 NOV. 1950 I K, B, K|ER 2,529,62 VEHICLE SUSPENSIONSYSTEM Filed Nov. 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

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Inventor [Liz-'er Aftomey Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UTN ITE D STATE S ENTOFFICE i' VEHICLESUSPENSIONiSYSTEM `'Kenneth B. Kier'," Middletown; Pa.u;'ApplicationiNovember 2,6;i1948gserial Nol 6',990

2 Claims, l

This invention `relates to a novel `vehicle susi pension system, adaptedto replaceeconventional standard spring suspension systems 'of `thetypes utilizing `coil springs, leaf springs or `combinations thereof forproviding .aseparate yieldable suspension lor each ofthe four wheels ofthe Vehicle.

it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a suspensionsystem havinga unit for each of the four' wheels of the vehicle andwhich units are `each connected to the 'vehicle frame or chassis abovethe center of gravity of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to incline orbank toward the direction of a turn instead of tilting in the oppositedirection and toward the outside o'f the turn in responsey tocentrifugal force as occurs `with conventional lvehicle suspensionsystems.

" Another object of the invention is to provide a suspension systemwhich is attached tothe vehicle frame or chassis above the vehiclecenter of Lgravity to eliminate the unpleasant sensation experiencedby'4 passengers in making turns and which will increase thestability ofthe vehicle to Aresist overturning as-well as'tendencies of the *vehicleto skid.

Various other objects and advantages of' the f1-invention ill`hereinafter become more fully apparent from the `following descriptionof the drawings;4 illustrating -apreferred embodiment rithereof;anda/herein:

`Figure -1 isafragmentary side elevationalview, `partly in section-g ofa`portion'of a vehicle frame or'chassis'andshowing the suspension unitap- A:pliecf te the iront and-rearv wheels thereof;

i Figurezis a transverse sectional view, partly in #sideelevation @ioneof `thefront wheel suspen- Lsion` unitstaken on the line 2-2 of Figurel;

ll/T'igure Sis ahsirnilareview of one ofthe rear wheelfsuspension units`taken onthe `line 3;-3 of Fig-ure 4 lis 'horizontal sectional Viewtaken Asubstantially*along a plane as `indicaJtedby the Figure -5 is aAperspectiveLvievv of a portion of one oi the front wheel suspensionunits;

' Figure 6 is a substantiallyvertical -sectional 1- view `takensubstantially i along a plane asindi- -cated by the lineeofzFigure 3; i

Figure 7 is'ai ivertical sectional view of another :portion of `therearlwheel'suspension unit, and.

Figure 8 is anenlargedvertical sectional view i taken substantially;along a plane as :indicated by l the line t-S oflFigure l.

Referring niore'specically to the'drawings, the @novel-'vehiclesuspension system iniits4 entirety is i :designated,generallyf liaandincludes a pain of l 2 .l corresponding front l wheelnsuspension lunits; only `one of which .is show-niand designated generally tt and apair of corresponding rear wheeltsuspension units, one of. which only isillustrated and 5 which is` designatedY generally |2. `Theaunits Il andi 2 are in inany-rrespectsidentical. i IniFigure llthe .frontwheelandrearfwheelsuspensioniunits liA and l2 are eachiillustrated in l.conjunction with certain of the partslonly of a 1Q conventional motorvehicle and .wherein :thelnear iront andtrear `wheels have beenomitted.``The motorlvehicle frame or chassis includes a convent Ational sideframe member landfadronttransverse frame member l il.4 Each of thefrontWheels 15. of nie vehicle `is shownantachedtothe .frame l, memberslt'and- IQ` by aV conventionalvfknee action7 mounting I6.

Referring particularly. to. Figure 2,.the front suspensionunit I Iincludes ,a mounting standard 20 Il which is welded orxotherwisesuitably secured ,l as seen at i8 at its-lower: end to the side .memberl, it of the frame or chassis and' which rises therefrom and risnormally disposed in an upright position;` l The Amounting standard ITIis of channel- ...shape construction in crosssectionand disposed to.open -outwardly.and is provided with a rein- L forcing web l e which isdisposedbetween the side .l flanges thereof Aand which diminishes. inwidth toward its upper pend."` The upper'end ofthe standard His providedwith a pair of spaced ears which are. disposed between thefsideV angesthereof and'which are providedvvith'aligned apery tures which registerwith larger openings 2|" in the side flangesV of the standard ilthroughwhich a pivot pin,` which engages-the apertures of the ears tti-may'beappliedand removed# V`-Said pivot pin or bolt 22`for1ns apart of /aconventional lubricated bronzebearingwhich engagesirotatably in the eyeformed transversely of-thelupperr-end 40' cia rod 24, as best'seenin'Figure 11i The 'rod- 24 forms an extension ofV theupper, closed endof a "cylinder or asleeve. 25 which is thus swingably fsupported on the`standard' Vif-and `Wliichi-hasan 'openllowerr end which isT normallyclosed' by acap v4or closure 2t which may be retained in anappliedposition inany 'suitablemannerf asbymeansA of a setscrew Theucap`or'closure 26 isnprovided with a `centralopening; 28 through Lwhicha-"rod' 29 extends reeiproeally.` .The rodl 29 is providedlat `its upperend with head' 38m/nich is `:slidably @disposed in;ftheisleeve.`orpc-ylinder. 2:54 toxform a guide for the: upper end of said rod, thelower end of 'which is.: guided; in4 ther-openingsl. 'Sconatractileitypefcoil spring 3f! issecu"red at it upper srend as seen atsi.'` inthe head iandhaslitsflower I mately three inches.

end anchored at 33 between the cap and cylinder for normally urging therod 2Q downwardly in the cylinder 25. The rod 29 has a transverselydisposed eye 3d at its lower end which is disposed between a pair ofupstanding apertured ears 35 which are secured to the outer portion oftne knee action unit I6 for receiving a pivot pin or bolt 36 whichextends through said eye and through the apertures of the ears 35 andwhich forms a part of a lubricated bronze bearing of a conventionaltype. As clearly illustrated in Figure 2, the rod 29 and cylinder 25extend upwardly and inwardly with respect to the standard Il.

The rear wheel suspension unit I2, as best i1- lustrated in Figures 1and 3, includes a standard Ila of the same construction as the standardIl and Which differs therefrom only in that the standard lla is shorterdue to the fact that it is mounted on the upwardly oiset or archedportion ISa of the longitudinal frame member I3. The ears 20a of thestandard I'Ia are disposed in the same horizontal plane as the ears 2tand above the center of gravity of the vehicle on which the suspensionunit I is mounted. A

cylinder 25a of the suspension unit I2 corresponds L with the cylinder25, including its rod 29a. A pair of upstanding ears 3l are secured tothe rear axle housing 38, in any suitable manner as by welding, andproject upwardly therefrom and are disposed outwardly of the standardI'la and substantially in longitudinal alignment with the ears 3.5located at the same side of the vehicle. In lieu of the bolt or pin 22and a lubricated bronze bearing, the eye 23a of the rod Ma is tpivotally connected to the ears a by a torsion v a rubber sleeve 4Iwhich is bonded either to the eye 23a and also to the pin or bolt 22a orto the eye `34a and the pin or bolt 36a. In the rear suspension unit I2,the pin 22a is xed to the ears 20a and the pin 35a is fixed to the ears31 which, as seen in Figure 6, are provided with an integral base 42which is welded or otherwise secured to the axle housing 38, as seen at43. Accordingly, the pivotal movement of the cylinder 25a relatively tothe standard Ila is afforded solely by the yieldability of the upperrubber sleeve 4I and the same applies to the pivotal movement of the rod29a relatively to the ears 31.

To maintain the rear axle housing 38 in a position transversely Aof thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle frame, `which is normally accomplishedby the leaf spring, each rear suspension unit l2 is provided with-abrace rod 44 having an eye at its rear end which is connected by asimilar torsional mounting liti to a pair of forwardly projecting earsli'I which are welded or member I3, forwardly 'of the rear axle housing38.

The cylinders or sleeves 2'5 and 25a are preferably approximatelysixteen and one-half inches in length and with an inside diameter ofapproxi- 'I'he springs 3l and Sia of said cylinders 25 and 25a,respectively, under a maximum load and with the vehicle motion- 4 lessare preferably about ten inches in length to allow a maximum extensionof the springs of about six inches to take care of any road condition.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the sides of thevehicle frame will be yieldably supported relatively to the wheels bythe suspension units il and I2 and due to the fact that said units areconnected to the frames by the standards I'I and IIa above thehorizontal plane of the center of gravity of the vehicle, it will bereadily obvious ythat the springs 3l and -3Ia will yieldably resist anytendency of the vehicle to tilt laterally from an upright position anddue to the fact that the force of said springs is exerted on the vehiclebody above its center of gravity, a tendency of the vehicle to tilt inresponse to centrifugal force will be substantially eliminated therebyminimizing the danger of over turning or skidding in making sharp turnsor turns at relatively high speeds.

While the suspension system lll is primarily adapted for application tonew motor vehicles when manufactured, it will be readily apparent thatit could be substituted foi` the conventional coil and leaf springmountings now in common use.

It will also be readily apparent that changes in dimensions and theproportions of the various parts will of necessity be resorted to foraccommodating the suspension system in various makes of motor vehicles.

Various other modications and changes are contemplated and may obviouslybe resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention as hereinafter dened by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a vehicle suspension unit, a mounting standard fixed to and risingfrom a side member of a vehicle frame or chassis, a connecting memberformed of telescopic sections pivotally connected to the standardadjacent its upper end and n having a lower end pivotally connected to awheel mounting of the vehicle, and spring means for yieldably urgingsaid telescoping sections toward extended positions for yieldablysupporting a portion of the frame or chassis relatively to an adjacentground wheel, said connecting member including a cylinder having aclosed upper end provided with an extension pivotally connected to thestandard, a detachable closure for the lower, opposite end of saidcylinder having a central guide opening, said cylinder forming one ofthe telescoping sections, a rod forming the other telescoping sectionextending reciprocally through the closure opening and` having a head onits upper end slidably engaging in the cylinder, said spring meanscomprising a contractile l ing a portion of the frame or chassisrelatively to an adjacent ground wheel, said connecting 5 memberincludingA a cylinder having a. closed upper end provided with anextension pivotally connected to the standard, a detachable closure forthe lower, opposite end of said cylinder having a central guide opening,said cylinder forming one of the telescoping sections, a rod forming theother telescoping section extending reciprocally through the closureopening and having a head on its upper end slidably engaging in thecylinder, said spring means comprising a l0 contractile coiled springdisposed in the lower portion of the cylinder having its upper endanchored to said head and its lower end anchored to the closure, saidspring normally supporting the upper closed end of the cylinder at acon- 15 Number siderable distance labove said head.

KENNETH BQ KIER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name y Date 1,888,989Kratky Nov. 29, 1932 2,039,041 Wall Apr.. 28, 1936 2,045,027 SanfordJune 23, 1936 2,164,470 Opolo July 4, 1939 2,350,037 Hofheins et al May30, 1944 2,496,428 Avila Feb. 7, 1950 FOREIGN vPATENTS Country Date244,921 Italy Mar. 29, 1926 689,203 France MayI 26, 1930 40,816 FranceMay 17, 1932

